NORTH QUABBIN TRAILS ASSOCIATION
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Welcome to the Freedom Chair fundraising page! 

6/30/2016

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Hello All Forest Friends, Veterans and supporters of our Challenge Mobility.
Bobby Curley here from NQTA (North Quabbin Trails Association)

NQTA is now looking to raise at least $6,000.00 for the procurement of 2 Freedom Chairs by Grit.  
This technical marvel all wheel drive wheelchair created by MIT graduates is Massachusetts based and assembled.  The first chair will provide Andy Kingsley a Afghan disabled war vet access back to the trails with no need for opiates.  The VA is requiring long term documentation for aquiring these needed chairs , this is wrong and the solution lies with your help.
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The second chair is a community chair that will be based at NQTA's headquarters at OIC, where they will be available at no charge for use by the community and people that are visiting our region.  We have an extended vision of having a small fleet of these chairs available for use.  With over 200 miles of newly connected trails NQTA will be working with trail guide book author John Burk and utilizing these trails with Andy and Nate Johnson who has cebebral palsy will be looking to redifine what is a challenged mobility trail with a new 1 to 4 rating system and providing a new Challenge Mobility trail map and guide.

Our friends at Grit left 2 chairs behind so we will be having live videos upcoming in the following days of Nate and Andys adventures.

So please help with what you can as all monies raised go directly into procuring these chairs.
You can use the new Go Fund Me Account we started
Freedom Chairs Fundraiser Campaign
https://www.gofundme.com/246hy3fg
 go to nqta.org 'Freedom Chair Fundraiser Campaign' Page and use our PayPal option or send a check made out to:
NQTA
Att . Lynne Goodnow
20 Exchange Street
Athol, MA 01331

NQTA is a 501c3 organization and all donations are tax deductible.

All inquiries or concerns Amy will address quickly and I'm always available to help with any questions.
​As a veteran myself this transformation of our N Quabbin trails for usage by our disabled vets and underserved of our community is mine and NQTA singular most important objective and your contribution is making a real difference in someone's life of health and fitness.​
Thank you all !
Upward and Onward !
Bobby Curley
NQTA President and
ENQ Co Chair
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Announcing a Veteran Freedom Chair Fundraising 120 Raffle for our Afgan War Veteran Andy Kingsley, with ALL proceeds going directly to getting him a Freedom Chair & permanently out on our trails!

6/29/2016

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About Nate & Andy - What the Freedom Chair means to them!!

6/28/2016

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Alittle about Nate & what the Freedom Chair means to him!!
Alittle about Andy Kingsley & what the Freedom Chair means to him!!
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"From A Veteran's Perspective"
​As a lifelong resident of the North Quabbin area I have always admired the scenic outdoors. I was born with spastic cerebral palsy that affects all four of my limbs. I have used a power wheelchair since the age of five. A few years ago with the help of my twin brother I learned I could kayak independently.
            The Freedom Chair will allow me to have an opportunity to enjoy the local hiking trails and just as important to get exercise. After several test drives with the Freedom Chair I am amazed at  my ability to move a manual chair.  I am excited about the prospect of enjoying the scenic North Quabbin region a whole new way and about the possibility of improving my health through invigorating hikes!
​            I graduated from UMass Amherst in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. I work as a coordinator for North Quabbin Citizen Advocacy (NQCA),. NQCA initiates supports and empowers relationships between a person with a mental disability or disorder and an ordinary citizen who matches the interests and needs of their disabled friend. The Freedom Chair is an excellent way to remedy the segregation that is still too frequently experienced by people with disabilities. The freedom chair will allow people of all abilities to hike and enjoy nature together!
I served with the 82nd Airborne Division from 2008-2010.  And finished the rest of my contract with the Army at Walter Reed Medical Center.  I was artillery.  In 2010 I was injured in Afghanistan by an 88mm recoilest rifle round, it took my right leg offinstantly, and I lost my right middle finger and my left big toe, and took shrapnel in my right eye.
           So with all these injuries, the Freedom Chair helps me get back out there in outdoor activities, so I can spend more time hiking with people and my son.
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What the Freedom Chair means to Nate, from his Mom & Caretaker Sandy:
​Hi my name is Sandy Johnson.  I am Nate’s mom and caregiver along with his dad Leon. We have lived in Orange all of our lives.  Over the years we have looked at different ways Nate could participate in safe activities for fun and exercise.  He has participated in horseback riding, wheelchair soccer and kayaking. When we have gone for hikes he has always been pushed in a manual chair or used his power wheelchair.  When we went to the Red Apple Farm outing we brought Nate’s walker and he was able to transfer from his power chair to the Grit Freedom Chair without having to be physically lifted.  After getting into the Freedom Chair he was able to propel himself independently. 
The Grit Freedom Chair really does give him the FREEDOM to move about on his own and thereby getting exercise and having fun at the same time.  As the caregiver I can go along and give him a push if he needs it but also know he is safe on his own.  Because the chair can be used anywhere in the North Quabbin Region (on a trail, on pavement, on the grass) we do not have to travel off somewhere special to use it.  He can get out and participate with other hikers and just be one of the group.  I think the Grit Freedom Chair will be a great asset to families with mobility impaired members, the North Quabbin Trail Association and our North Quabbin Region.
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Freedom Chair Funraising Donation Total to Date

6/17/2016

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Freedom Chair Donation total to date: $4,505.75

​We are one month into this fundraiser and are so happy, proud and greatful for all of the support, donations and shares!

​Yesterday, Bobby was able to purchase one of the 2 Freedom Chairs and put a down payment / deposit on the 2nd chair!!!

We have come so far and hope to be able to purchase the 2nd chair soon.

​Please keep sharing as this is an ongoing fundraiser, and every share helps get the word out!!
DONATING OPTIONS:
DONATE TOWARD ANDY'S CHAIR:
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DONATE TOWARD THE COMMUNITY CHAIR:
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A message to us from Mrs. Johnson, Nate's Mom :)

6/1/2016

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Hi All,

​Thanks for the heads up on Nate’s order. We’re excited to see what you come up with. Nate was out on the trail today in the Wendell State Forest putting the Freedom chair through it’s paces. He was showing the DCR folks what this chair is capable of out on the trail. They wanted to take the Terra Trek chair but we pushed to take the Freedom chair because we wanted to see what it could do. DCR let us use a pair of their trail handles and we really liked them. I had gotten the idea of putting a pull rope on the font from your video of the Veterans in the MUD BOG and that was a great help going over rocks and roots. Needless to say the DCR folks were impressed and their horizons have been opened. Attached are four photos from today’s adventure. The one of Nate’s red hat is just to show you the beaver lodge Nate was able to see out on the trail.


Loving the GRIT FREEDOM CHAIR... Happy Trails,
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    DONATING OPTIONS:
    Donate toward the Community Chair 
    ​$2,135 out of $3,000 Raised
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    Each chair costs $3,000 to purchase.  This fundraiser is in hopes to raise AT LEAST enough money for these 2 chairs for Nate & Andy, BUT this fundraiser will be an open ending fundraiser so that IF we can raise more then the total cost of $6,000 ($3,000 each chair) then we want to have more chairs, hopefully at least 2, available at all times at OIC (Orange Innovation Center) 131 West Main St, Orange for others to go and sign out a chair for the day and be able to enjoy these chairs and our trails!!! 
    Please help us achieve this goal so we can give back to our veterans and they can get out and enjoy our beautiful trails.  
    Any donation is helpful and don't forget to SHARE SHARE SHARE this fundraiser, the more people who share, the more people who know and can donate / share, it ALL helps!!!

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    GRIT Freedom Chair
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    North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
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    Red Apple Farm

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Click the button below to choose your amount. Thank-you so much for your donation!

​North Quabbin Trails Association is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization.  Thank you for your support!
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  • Membership Options
  • About NQTA
  • Donate to NQTA
  • Contact Us
  • NQTA Blog
  • View the North Quabbin
  • Board & Consultants
  • Tuesday Trekkers Blog
  • Trail Maps & Guides
  • Advertise on Our Maps
  • Tick Info and Resources
  • Health and Wellness
  • GRIT Freedom Chair
  • In The News
  • Apparel / Merchandise
  • Our Partnerships
  • Cultural Development